Alan Shearer believes the return of ‘balance’ in midfield has been the ‘big difference’ at Newcastle United in recent weeks and the driving force behind back-to-back Premier League wins over Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Shearer hailed Eddie Howe’s recent changes in the middle of the park, feeling the combination of Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock – who has linked up down the left with Joelinton – has ‘worked perfectly.’
Shearer feels we’ve ‘got our mojo back’ and look energised again, reminding him of the side who finished fourth two seasons ago in our 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
“He’s found the balance in midfield, and that’s been the big difference, where the change has been,” Shearer said. “Joe Willock’s come in to the left of the three in midfield, Bruno [Guimaraes] in the middle and [Sean] Longstaff just to the right of him. Then, Joelinton either left side up front or right side, he played both sides again today which allows Gordon to play left or right.
“I think that balance has worked perfectly and that has been the big difference; from winning against Chelsea, Arsenal and again (against Forest). They’ve got their mojo back. They’ve got their energy back. They look much more like team from a year ago or 18 months ago when they were really tough to play against.”
It’s been tough on Sandro Tonali, who hasn’t started in our last two league games after losing his place to Longstaff, but there’s no denying that we’ve looked far more balanced – on and off the ball – in recent weeks, benefiting from Willock’s energy and combinations down the left and Longstaff’s diligent defensive work.
Hopefully this theme continues, although there’ll surely come a point where we must find a role for Tonali in the side, as we’ve not paid in excess of £50m for an Italian international to warm the bench. A positive selection headache for Howe and one to watch in the coming weeks, especially when he looked so good in the No.6 role in that cup win over Chelsea two weeks ago.
Shearer is partly right, but only partly: it could be Tonali in Sean’s place; the bit he missed out is the Willock-Joelinton combo on the left (greatly assisted by Hall) which we didn’t have earlier when we were playing with a proper left-winger on the left. Funny we’re much better on the left when we don’t play either of our two superb left wingers on the left!
There are selection problems (very welcome) over Tonali, Gordon and Barnes – I do not think for one minute Gordon likes playing on the right. Get a proper right winger, and Eddie will have real problems! – the sort any manager would love. This would put us a mile ahead of our situation last year when we had umpteen goalies and teenagers filling the bench for lack of proper subs. Our bench is super strong just now.
davewallace(Quote)